The Dark Oak26 Nov 2025

Episode 131: Who Killed Lyric Cook-Morrissey and Elizabeth Collins - Part 2 of 2

On July 13, 2012, 10-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins vanished while riding bikes in Evansdale, Iowa; their bikes and Elizabeth’s purse were found hours later at Meyers Lake. Five months later, their remains were discovered 25 miles away in the secluded, locals-only Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, and both deaths were ruled homicides (specific trauma details still sealed). After registered sex offender Michael Klunder abducted and murdered 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard in 2013 (using a daylight “job offer” ruse similar to the Evansdale case) and then killed himself, he became the prime suspect: he had a prior double toddler abduction, had been released from prison only months before the girls disappeared, and had ties near the body-dump site. Despite striking parallels and claims from prison acquaintances that they saw Klunder in Evansdale, authorities ruled him out in 2013–2014, citing undisclosed evidence placing him at work or home during the abduction window. The case remains unsolved in 2025, with the FBI profiling a single local offender familiar with both sites, new DNA testing underway, and a combined $200,000 reward still active.

Sources:

Iowa Cold Cases, Inc. (2025, October 2). Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins | Iowa Cold cases. Iowa Cold Cases. https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/lyric-cook-and-elizabeth-collins/

HBO Max. (2024, August 6). Episode 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBJ97l-ASDY

Hermiston, L. (2015, April 28). Letters from Evansdale officers show lack of confidence in former chief Smock. The Gazette - Local Iowa News, Sports, Obituaries, and Headlines – Cedar Rapids, Iowa City. https://www.thegazette.com/news/letters-from-evansdale-officers-show-lack-of-confidence-in-former-chief-smock/

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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

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